Sarasota, Rick Grassett

Anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had some action catching and releasing trout, snook and reds in Gasparilla Sound on DOA Lures and flies recently. Anglers fishing with me also caught and released ladyfish, trout and snook closer to home also on DOA Lures and flies on a couple of trips in Little Sarasota Bay and Roberts Bay.

Rich Hilser, from Marion, NC, fished a couple of days with me in Gasparilla Sound near Boca Grande and had some action caching and releasing trout and ladyfish on Clouser flies. Adam Theiler, from London, and Kirk Theiler, from IN, fished the same area with me and caught and released several reds, snook and trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms. They weren’t large fish, but they had a couple of slams on the boat! Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, also fished that area with me on another trip and had similar action including a slam. His last fish of the day was a 28”, 8-lb red that was caught and released on a CAL jig with a shad tail!

Fishing dock lights in the evening is usually a good option for catch and release snook fishing this time of year, although it is dependent on tide and conditions. Fishing shallow flats is both challenging and rewarding. It usually requires fishing hard to find and catch fish. You may not catch big numbers of fish but you may catch some good ones. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by agricultural and residential runoff, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!